Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has been told that there is no medical cure for his heel injury, and must simply manage the pain and hope that it improves with time.
Henderson, 25, was promoted to Anfield skipper in July by Brendan Rodgers following Steven Gerrard's departure to LA Galaxy, but he has only just returned to action after aggravating a heel injury in August and then breaking his foot during training a month later.
The England international has consulted a number of medical experts including the Boston Red Sox, Royal Ballet and the Australian cricket team as his injury -- plantar fasciitis -- is similar to the problem suffered by dancers and fast bowlers.
However, Henderson -- who made his first appearance under Jurgen Klopp in the 1-0 win over Swansea on Nov. 29 -- has been told there is no cure other than seeking to manage the pain, which has troubled him since last season.
"It's been incredibly difficult, not just for me but for the staff as well," Henderson said in The Guardian. "With my metatarsal I knew exactly what kind of time scale I'd be out for but with my heel there isn't a timescale, there isn't really a cure.
"That's been the most difficult part. It's been hard but I've had good people around me like Chris Morgan [the head of physiotherapy] and all the staff here. There have been times when I've been pretty down because we couldn't find the answers.
"Now I'm at a point where I can function, where I can train and start playing some part in games. Hopefully I can continue like that and it will continue to improve."
The midfielder says that despite a lengthy injury layoff due to the "burning, stabbing, nervy" pain in his left foot, he was still aware of the problem during his substitute appearances against Swansea and Southampton in the past week.
"It's hard not to be aware of it because I've been out for so long with it," he said. "When I am coming on all I am focusing on is trying to play my best for the team but there are times in the game when I feel it a little bit and think: 'Is it back?'
"I just need to forget about that and concentrate on playing football. If it comes back, it comes back. There is nothing I can do about it but on the pitch I need to focus on the job and deal with the consequences after the game."
Henderson said he has spoken to Jamie Carragher as the former Liverpool centre-back also suffered from the same condition, though a rupture helped alleviate the pain for the Anfield legend.
"I spoke to Carra briefly and also to quite a few experts and doctors all over the world," he said. "There is nothing set in stone for this injury. A lot of people have said to keep having cortisone injections and eventually it may just rupture and that might be the relief that is needed but no one knows.
"It can vary. People have been out for months after a rupture and others have been out for a week or two."
Former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson suggested that he did not try to sign Henderson because he felt the midfielder's running style would cause injuries in future, but the player dismissed that hypothesis.
"I don't think it has anything to do with my gait," he added. "Hopefully as I take my load up, and the maximum I have played is 25-30 minutes so far, my foot doesn't react too much and I can get back to the level I want to be at."